Volvo Bus UK & Ireland's Saskia Legate on electrification support and ScotZEB/ZEBRA funding, in SMMT Q&A
In a profile published by SMMT, Volvo Bus UK & Ireland's National Account Manager sets out how the manufacturer supports operators through the switch to zero tailpipe emission buses, and credits the ScotZEB and ZEBRA funding programmes with helping close the investment gap on infrastructure and depot upgrades.
SMMT published a Q&A profile with Saskia Legate, National Account Manager at Volvo Bus UK & Ireland, on 24 September 2026 as part of its 'Five Minutes With…' series.
Legate describes her role as working closely with large fleet operators to identify the right vehicle and service solutions, acting as a point of contact from initial discussions through delivery and aftersales support. She says a large part of her current work involves helping operators navigate the transition to zero tailpipe emission transport, including understanding the vehicles, infrastructure, funding and operational considerations involved.
On Volvo Bus's approach, Legate says the company is "taking a holistic approach to electrification, recognising that the transition to zero tailpipe emission transport is about more than just supplying the vehicle." She says Volvo Bus works with operators on infrastructure requirements, helping them understand charging strategies, power needs and operational impacts, rather than treating electrification as a vehicle-only transaction.
Asked about funding initiatives such as ScotZEB and ZEBRA, Legate says they "have been incredibly important in accelerating the adoption of electric buses across the UK," arguing that the transition requires significant investment beyond the buses themselves, covering infrastructure and depot upgrades, and that the funding programmes help bridge that gap and make earlier investment more viable for operators and local authorities. This is her own assessment of the schemes rather than an independent evaluation of their outcomes.
Legate also comments on diversity in the sector, saying the bus industry "offers excellent opportunities for women and has made some real progress in recent years," with more women taking up roles across engineering, operations, leadership, sales and customer support, while noting that more can still be done through mentoring, visible role models and inclusive recruitment.
Sources
SMMTNamed in this story? You have a right of reply: email hello@thrivefleet.co.uk and a challenged claim will be marked under review while we check it.
